Mobile outdoor display unit

ABSTRACT

A mobile display unit is provided which can be expanded on location to provide a shelter for the display of merchandise, the unit being so constructed that, when in the expanded condition, it is capable of protecting the merchandise from environmental weather conditions and from access by unauthorized persons.

United States Patent Radtke [15] 3,692,350 [451 'Sept. 19,1972

[54] MOBILE OUTDOOR DISPLAY UNIT [72] Inventor: Carl W. Radtke, Chicago,Ill.

[73] Assignee: lckes-Braun Glasshouses, lnc., Deerfield, Ill.

22 Filed: May 10,1971

21 Appl.No.: 141,710

52 us. Cl. ..296/21, 296/26, 52/69 511 lm. Cl. .360 3/02 58 Field ofSearch ..296/23 R, 26, 21, 27; 52/69 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,920,920 1/1960 Couse ..296/26 3,131,001 4/1964 Meyer ..296/27Primary ExaminerPhilip Goodman Att0rney-Fitch, Even, Tabin & Luedeka [57] ABSTRACT -A mobile display unit is provided which can be expanded onlocation to provide a shelter for the display of merchandise, the unitbeing so constructed that, when in the expanded condition, it is capableof protecting the merchandise from environmental weather conditions andfrom access by unauthorized persons.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmmmswewn 3.692.350

' sum 2 OF 3 i i I: L INVENTORS E E J i 6424 1 40m: i mmmiw ATTYS,

MOBILE OUTDOOR DISPLAY UNIT The present invention relates to outdoorshelters adapted to be used for the display and sale of merchandise and,more particularly, to shelters which are collapsible and transportableso as to be readily moved to and set up at different locations.

In the merchandising of certain products, where a shelter of some fonnis desirable for the convenience of customers, it is not practical toerect a permanent or even a temporary building solely for that purpose.This is particularly true in the merchandising of seasonal products suchas flowers, fruits and vegetables. It is also true for merchandise whichis marketed most efficiently, from an economic standpoint, onlyperiodically as opposed to continuously at any given location. Thus,certain merchandise such as flowers and plants may be most effectivelymarketed during warm weather in some areas only on weekends andholidays. It is ideal under such circumstances to set up a marketingfacility at a large open area which provides ample parking but to removesuch facility after the periods of peak activity.

Accordingly, it is advantageous to market such merchandise from a mobileunit which can be moved from one location to another and which includesample interior storage space to transport the merchandise to and fromeach location. Preferably, the unit is adapted to be opened or expandedon location to increase its available display area and to render itsimilar in appearance and function to a permanent stationary shelter. Inaddition, the unit should be capable of protecting the merchandise andcustomers from inclement weather in the event that such becomesnecessary.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide animproved portable shelter for the display of merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portableshelter which can be expanded at location to provide a shelter for thedisplay of merchandise.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved portableshelter for the display of merchandise, which shelter is capable ofprotecting merchandise and customers from inclement weather.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent with reference to the following description and theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile unit capable of being expandedon location to provide a shelter for the display of merchandise;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unit-of FIG. 1 in a partiallyexpanded condition showing various of the display surfaces available formerchandise;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view taken alongline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along line 4-4of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view taken alongline 5--5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view taken alongline 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a mobile expandabledisplay unit 10 comprising a bed 12 supported by tandem wheels 14 andprovided with a tongue 16 projecting forwardly from one end tofacilitate attachment of the unit to a trailer tractor or the like (notshown). Extending upwardly from the four corners of the bed, andpreferably intermediate the corners along the sides of the bed, aresupport posts 18 which are interconnected along the sides of the unit bytubes 20 (FIG. 5), these tubes being interconnected at various pointsalong their length and attheir ends by tie beams 22. The unit 10 isprovided with a gable roof, preferably in the form of corrugated panels24 sup ported by rafters (not shown) extending from the tubes 20 andconnected to a ridge pole 26.

The ends of the unit are closed by an upper wall section 28 (FIGS. 1 and2), a lower wall section 30, and an intermediate wall section defined byfour panels 32 which are hinged together to permit folding to openpositions shown in FIG. 2 to provide an open window at each end of theunit to service customers or merely for ventilation. A display orservice shelf or bench 34 is provided adjacent each such window.

Each of the sides of the unit is adapted to be closed by a single wallpanel 36 which includes corrugated sheets 38 preferably formed of aglass fiber reenforced plastic supported by a panel framework 40. Thepanel framework 40 includes an upper edge wall 42, side members 44, anda lower edge member 46. In addition, the framework includes horizontallyand vertically disposed reenforcing braces which are in the form oflbeams 48 (FIG. 4). The corrugated sheets 38 are secured to variouselements of the frame 40 by suitable fasteners 50.

Each wall panel 36 is hingedly attached adjacent its upper edge to themain frame of the mobile unit 10 so as to enable it to be swungoutwardly and upwardly until its corrugated sheets 38 are in generallycoplanar relation to the roof panels 24, as shown in FIG. 2, thusproviding a canopy and appreciably expanding the sides of the unitlaterally from the arrangement in FIG. 1. In this regard, the upper edgewall 42 of each panel 36 (FIG. 5) is preferably an extruded memberformed to provide an upstanding curl 52 which is received within aknuckle 54 defined by an extruded, longitudinally extending hinge plate56 secured to each tube 20.

The resulting hinge not only supports the wall panel 36, but provides aweather-tight interconnection between the panel and main frame at theupper end of the wall panel, making supplementary closures or seals atthis point unnecessary.

In opening or expanding the unit 10, as seen in FIG. 1, each of the sidewall panels 36 are swung outwardly and supported in the position shownin FIG. 2 by ground engaging posts 58 secured at their upper ends to theside members 44 of the panels by bolts 60 adjacent the outer ends of thepanels opposite the hinge (FIG. 3). The posts 58 are preferablyadjustable in length to enable them to be accommodated to varioussurface conditions surrounding the unit. A pair of additional posts (notshown) are also provided along the lower or outer edge of the wallpanel, preferably spaced to divide the lower edge into three spans ofequal length.

After the wall panel 36 has been swung upwardly and outwardly and aresupported by the posts 58, triangular roof side panels 62 are bolted inplace to add further structural support to the canopy defined by thewall panels and to close the upper portion of the end areas beneath thecanopy against wind and inclement weather conditions. Beneath each roofside panel 62 is supported a set of end wall panels 64, four such panelsbeing shown in each set in FIG. 2, and being designated by the numeral64a, 64b, 64c, and 64d. Each of the panels 640 is hingedly attachedalong one of its vertical edges to a corner supported post 18 of themain frame of the unit, and each panel 64b is hinged to an oppositevertical edge of a panel 64a. Each panel 64d is hingedly attached alongone of its vertical edges to a canopy support post 58, and each panel640 is hingedly attached to an opposite edge of the panel 64d. Thepanels 64b and 640 are not attached to each other. Thus, the panels 64can be swung to the positions shown at the left-hand side of FIG. 2 toprovide an open, airy shelter,or can be closed as in the right-hand sideof FIG. 2 in the event of inclement weather, or to safeguard themerchandise overnight. When in the closed position, the panels may belocked to the lower edge of the roof side panels from within thecanopied enclosure.

The side portions of the unit beneath the lower outer edge of the wallpanels 36 are adapted to be closed by hinged folding doors 66,designated by the numerals 66a through 661 in FIG. 2, which can be swungback to permit I full access to the merchandise displayed beneath thewall panels when desired. The doors 66 are attached to the under orinner side of the wall panels 36 in such a manner that they are stablewhen open, even when subjected to windy weather conditions, and so thatany space beneath the corrugated sheets 38 within the panel itself isclosed and sealed from the weather.

The doors 66 are provided in sets or pairs, the doors of each pair beinghingedly interconnected to each other along adjacent vertical edges, andone door of each pair being hingedly connected along one of its verticaledges to one of the support posts 58. In addition, one door of eachpair, i.e., that door not hingedly attached to a post 58, is providedwith a roller 68 adjacent its upper edge which rides in a track definedby a transom 70. A filler strip 72 and closure plates 74 are provided tosecure the resulting shelter against the weather.

More specifically, and with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the transom 70is secured to the inner or .under side of the braces 48 which extendbetween the upper and lower edge walls 42 and 46, respectively, of thewall panel 36. It will be appreciated that the wall panel 36 isrelatively open within the outer periphery of the frame 40 except forthe braces 48. Accordingly, to close the otherwise existing gap betweenthe transom 70 and the corrugated sheets 38 of the wall panel 36, thefiller strip 72 is provided. This strip extends the length of the wallpanel 36 intermediate the side members 44 and, in a preferredembodiment, is formed of a polyurethane foam sheet approximately 1 inchthick. It is cut to con form to the contour of the under surface of thecorrugated sheets 38, as seen best in FIG. 4. Thus, the filler includesrisers 76 to fill the voids formed by the corrugations, and relativelythin webs 78 intermediate the risers. The filler is secured in place byfasteners 50 extending through the web 78.

Secured to the underside of the filler 72, also by means of thefasteners 50, are the closure plates 74, seen best in FIGS. 3 and 4. Theclosure plates are bent the filler 72, and the mounting portion 80 andthe flange 82 are arranged at an obtuse angle to each other such thatwhen the wall panel 36 is disposed in its elevated canopy-definingposition, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flange 82-is verticallydisposed. The closure plates extend between the braces 48 runningbetween the upper edge wall 42 and the lower edge member 46 and arenotched at each end to accommodate the flanges and webs of the braces 48(FIG. 4).

The transom extends the length of the wall panel 36 between the sidemembers 44 and is of irregular shape in transverse cross section (FIG.3). It is therefore preferably extruded. It includes generally aninclined top wall 84 secured to the flanges of the braces 48 byfasteners 86, and a pair of horizontally spaced skirts 88 and 90 whichdefine the side walls of a track for the roller 68. Each skirt isprovided with an inwardly turned flange 92 at its lower edge to define ashoulder upon which the rollers ride. The skirts are also provided withinwardly directed ribs 94 which provide strength and also serve tocontain the rollers against upward movement.

Secured to the top wall 84 at the junction of the top wall and the skirt90 is a channel defined by a'horizontally extending base 96 andvertically upstanding, relatively closely spaced side walls 98. Thechannel is adapted to receive the lower edges of the flanges 82 of theclosure plates 74 so as to therefore provide. a complete seal betweenthe corrugated sheets 38 of the wall panel 36 and the transom70, inconjunction with the filler 72. The channel is notched, as at 100 inFIG. 4, to accommodate the lower flanges of the braces 48.

Extending horizontally from the lower edge of the skirt 90 of thetransom 70, and constituting, in effect, an extension of the flange 92of that skirt, is a horizontal plate 102, and depending from therearward edge of this plate 102 is a door stop strip 104 against whichthe doors abut when in the closed position, as seen in FIG. 3, to definethe closed position. Brackets 106 are secured to the horizontal plate102 by bolts 108 and to the post 58 by bolts 110 to thereby unite thewall panel 36, transom 70, and posts 58 and rigidify the entirestructure.

The rollers 68 which ride in the track defined by the transom 70 arecarried at the upper ends of inverted L- shaped brackets 112 by rollerpins 114, a spacer 116 being provided intermediate each bracket and itsroller. The brackets 112 are secured by bolts 118 to the door of eachhingedly interconnected pair which is not hinged to a post 58. A look120 is provided adjacent each roller bracket 112 and includes a lockbolt 122 which is adapted to enter a suitable hole provided in thehorizontal plate 102 of the transom to lock each set of doors 66 inplace. Preferably, the :skirt 88 of the transom is provided withsuitable notches (not shown) to permit entry of the rollers into thetrack defined by transom 70.

It will therefore be seen that the doors 66 are mounted for easy foldingmovement on the underside of the wall panel 36 by means of the transom70, when the wall panel is in the elevated or canopy-defining position,and that the transom, together with the filler 72 and closure plates 74,seal the interior of the canopy closure thus formed against wind, rain,etc., providing essentially a weather-tight shelter. Suitable means suchas braces (not shown) are preferably provided to secure the doors in theopen position shown in FIG. 2 to prevent their being displaced by windor accidental contact, although the rollers 68 within the track definedby the transom will greatly minimize the possibility of suchdisplacement.

To provide additional displace surfaces for the unit 10, platforms 124are secured to the bed 12 and project laterally therefrom from each sideedge. In addition, stairs (not shown) are also secured to the side edgesof the bed to enable persons to climb onto the bed to gain access toother benches which, it is contemplated, will be arranged on the bed.

In this regard, a rail 126 is secured to the bed 12 along each sidethereof and the platforms 124, as well as the stairs, are detachablymounted on the rail in the manner shown in FIG. 6. More specifically,the rail 126 includes a vertical portion 128 by means of which the railis attached to the edge of the bed, av horizontally disposed upperportion 130 which fits beneaththe edge portion of the bed, a verticallydisposed back wall 132, a horizontally disposed bottom wall 134 parallelto and located beneath the upper portion 130, and a flange 136 whichextends vertically upwardly from the edge of the bottom wall 134' butterminates short of the top portion 130 to provide a gap therebetweenthrough which a bracket 138 secured to the platform or stairs may beinserted. The bracket extends horizontally along the upper surface ofthe platform, then upwardly adjacent the rearward edge thereof, and isprovided with a hook 140 which is adapted to fit into the gap of therail and to overlie and be hung upon the upper edge of the flange 136.In this manner, the platform and stairs can be easily and convenientlyattached to or detached from the bed 12, as desired.

In setting up the unit 10, which arrives at a desired location, as shownin FIG. 1, the panels 32 at the ends of the unit are removed and thewall panels 36 swung upwardly and outwardly. The posts 58 are attachedby means of the bolts 60 to maintain the panels 36 in such position. Thetransom 70 is then attached to the underside of the wall panels 36 andto the posts 58, and the folding doors 66 are hingedly attached to theposts 58 and to each other with the rollers 68 disposed to the trackdefined by the transom. The roof side panels 62 and the end panels 64are then mounted, as previously described, and the platforms 124 andstairs attached to the bed 12. Suitable additional platforms may be setup on the bed, if desired.

The resulting unit provides substantial display surfaces, all of whichare located beneath the roof 24 or the canopy provided by the side wallpanel 36. End

7 panels 32 and 64, and folding doors 66 rriay be closed or put in placein the event of inclement weather to provide a substantially fullyenclosed shelter except for an access portal, which can be provided byleaving two of the panels 660 unsecured. The panels and doors can all besecured and locked in place overnight if the unit is to remain at thesame location.

While one specific structural embodiment of a mobile display unit hasbeen shown and described, it should be apparent that variousmodifications may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A mobile display unit comprising A. a bed having side and end edges,

B. wheels mounted on said bed adapted for supporting travel,

C. a main frame mounted on said bed supportinf a roof overhanging saidbed,

D. means at each end of said bed supported by said main frame definingunit end walls,

E. a wall panel disposed along each of opposite sides of said mainframe,

1. each of said wall panels comprising a panel framework and sheetmaterial covering the outer surface of said panel framework,

2. each of said wall panels being hinged to said main frame for swingingmovement about a generally horizontal axis between a generally verticalposition in which it defines a side wall of the unit and a-position inwhich it is swung outwardly and upwardly to define a canopy extendinglaterally from said main frame,

. support posts secured to and extending downwardly from said canopy toground-engaging positions to maintain said wall panel in said canopydefining position,

G. means extending downwardly from said canopy to adjacent the groundbeneath said canopy adjacent each of said canopy to close the spacecovered by said canopy at each end thereof,

H. a transom secured to said panel framework beneath and spaced fromsaid wall panel sheet material when said wall panel is disposed in saidcanopy-defining position,

I. said transom defining a track to receive rollers,

l. a plurality of folding doors disposed along the side edge of each ofsaid wall panels vwhen said wall panels are in said canopy-definingposition,

1. at least some of said folding doors being hingedly mounted on saidsupport posts,

2. other of said folding doors being hingedly attached to said some ofsaid folding doors and having a roller mounted adjacent their upper endsin engagement with said transom track,

J. and means providing a seal between said transom and the adjacentsurfaces of said wall panel sheet material to minimize the passage ofwind and moisture intermediate said transom and said adjacent surfacesof said wall panel sheet material.

2. A mobile display unit in accordance with'claim 1, wherein a rail issecured to said bed along each side edge thereof, wherein a plurality ofelongated platforms are provided, wherein a bracket is secured adjacentone end of each platform for releasable interlocking engagement withsaid rail to support said one end of said platform along said rail in anelevated position, and wherein means are provided adjacent the oppositeend of each of said platforms for supporting said opposite end in anelevated position.

3. A mobile display unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wallpanel is hinged to said main frame for swinging movement about ahorizontal axis disposed beneath said roof.

4. A mobile display unit in accordance with claim 1,

. wherein said roof overlaps the upper edge portion of each of said wallpanels when said wall panels are in said canopy-defining positions.

5. A mobile display unit accordance with claim 1, wherein said wallpanel is hinged to said main frame by interlocking self-sealing hingemembers which overlap to prevent precipitation from passing intermediatesaid wall panel and said main frame.

6. A mobile display unit in accordance with claim 1,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N 3,692,Dated l9,

Inventor(s) Carl W. Radtke It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below;

Column 6, lines 9 and 10,. (Claim l), change "for supporting travel" tofor highway travel-;

Column 6, line 10, (Claim 1), correct the spelling of "supporting";

Colunm 6, line 33, (Claim 1), change "adjacent each of said canopy" toadjacent each end of said canopy-- Column 7, line 5 (Claim 5) change"unit accordance" to -unit in accordance.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attes-t:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. 7 ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s4 GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE Iss9 o-ass-asl,

1. A mobile display unit comprising A. a bed having side and end edges,B. wheels mounted on said bed adapted for supporting travel, C. a mainframe mounted on said bed supportinf a roof overhanging said bed, D.means at each end of said bed supported by said main frame defining unitend walls, E. a wall panel disposed along each of opposite sides of saidmain frame,
 1. each of said wall panels comprising a panel framework andsheet material covering the outer surface of said panel framework, 2.each of said wall panels being hinged to said main frame for swingingmovement about a generally horizontal axis between a generally verticalposition in which it defines a side wall of the unit and a position inwhich it is swung outwardly and upwardly to define a canopy extendinglaterally from said main frame, F. support posts secured to andextending downwardly from said canopy to ground-engaging positions tomaintain said wall panel in said canopy defining position, G. meansextending downwardly from said canopy to adjacent the ground beneathsaid canopy adjacent each of said canopy to close the space covered bysaid canopy at each end thereof, H. a transom secured to said panelframework beneath and spaced from said wall panel sheet material whensaid wall panel is disposed in said canopy-defining position,
 1. saidtransom defining a track to receive rollers, I. a plurality of foldingdoors disposed along the side edge of each of said wall panels when saidwall panels are in said canopy-defining position,
 1. at least some ofsaid folding doors being hingedly mounted on said support posts, 2.other of said folding doors being hingedly attached to said some of saidfolding doors and having a roller mounted adjacent their upper ends inengagement with said transom track, J. and means providing a sealbetween said transom and the adjacent surfaces of said wall panel sheetmaterial to minimize the passage of wind and moisture intermediate saidtransom and said adjacent surfaces of said wall panel sheet material. 2.each of said wall panels being hinged to said main frame for swingingmovement about a generally horizontal axis between a generally verticalposition in which it defines a side wall of the unit and a position inwhich it is swung outwardly and upwardly to define a canopy extendinglaterally from said main frame, F. support posts secured to andextending downwardly from said canopy to ground-engaging positions tomaintain said wall panel in said canopy defining position, G. meansextending downwardly from said canopy to adjacent the ground beneathsaid canopy adjacent each of said canopy to close the space covered bysaid canopy at each end thereof, H. a transom secured to said panelframework beneath and spaced from said wall panel sheet material whensaid wall panel is disposed in said canopy-defining position,
 2. otherof said folding doors being hingedly attached to said some of saidfolding doors and having a roller mounted adjacent their upper ends inengagement with said transom track, J. and means providing a sealbetween said transom and the adjacent surfaces of said wall panel sheetmaterial to minimize the passage of wind and moisture intermediate saidtransom and said adjacent surfaces of said wall panel sheet material. 2.A mobile display unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein a rail issecured to said bed along each side edge thereof, wherein a plurality ofelongated platforms are provided, wherein a bracket is secured adjacentone end of each platform for releasable interlocking engagement withsaid rail to support said one end of said platform along said rail in anelevated position, and wherein means are provided adjacent the oppositeend of each of said platforms for supporting said opposite end in anelevated position.
 3. A mobile display unit in accordance with claim 1,wherein said wall panel is hinged to said main frame for swingingmovement about a horizontal axis disposed beneath said roof.
 4. A mobiledisplay unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said roof overlaps theupper edge portion of each of said wall panels when said wall panels arein said canopy-defining positions.
 5. A mobile display unit accordancewith claim 1, wherein said wall panel is hinged to said main frame byinterlocking self-sealing hinge members which overlap to preventprecipitation from passing intermediate said wall panel and said mainframe.
 6. A mobile display unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidsheet material covering said panel framework is corrugated.
 7. A mobiledisplay unit in accordance with claim 6, wherein a filler is providedwithin said wall panel to fill the voids created by said corrugations,wherein a closure plate extends downwardly from said filler, and whereina channel is provided in the upper surface of said transom to receivethe lower edge portion of said closure plate.